What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
permute
Example
The computer program can permute the letters in a word to create new combinations. [permute: verb]
Example
The teacher asked the students to permute the numbers in the sequence. [permute: verb]
transpose
Example
The musician decided to transpose the song to a different key. [transpose: verb]
Example
The engineer had to transpose the data from one spreadsheet to another. [transpose: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Transpose is more commonly used than permute in everyday language, as it has broader applications in various fields. Permute is more specialized and is typically used in specific contexts such as mathematics and computer science.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between permute and transpose?
Both permute and transpose are formal words that are commonly used in technical or academic writing. However, transpose is more versatile and can also be used in everyday language, while permute is less common outside of specialized fields.
